Carpet-plucker.



J. C. OWENS.

CARPET PLUCKER.

` PPLIUATION mmm Nov,11, 1909.

Patented Ne -v. 14, 1911.

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JASPER C. OWENS, OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

CARPET-PLUCKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patente l Nov. 14:, 1911.

Application led November 11, 1909. Serial No. 527,424.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, JASPER C. OWENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hollywood, in the county of Los AngelesV and State of California., have invented new j and useful Improvements in Carpet-Pluckers, of which the following is a specification.

On heavy high piled carpet the edge is usually turned under to form a hem so as to make a finished appearance and durable edge. In order to make this hemmed edge so that its thickness is not excessive it is necessary to remove the nap from the edge portion which is turned under. Heretofore, so far as I am aware this operation has been done by means of cutting, a pair of shears being ordinarily used and the nap sheared off as Well as possible. This shearing operation leaves a portion of the nap still in the carpet fabric. If the nap is pulled out bodily the fabric is left clean and of a minimum thickness.

The present invention embodies a simple machine which will pull the nap from the edge ortion of a carpet in a simple and expedltious manner. The mechanism comprises a pair of grippers adapted to reciprocate to and from lthe carpet, which is automatically fed through the machine. A peculiar and novel mechanism operates the grippers to both move to and lfrom the carpet and to move to and from each other so as to grip the nap and release it after it is pulled out. The remaining mechanism consists of a simple and eiicient means for feeding the carpet.

In the present machine the strip from which the nap is pulled is removed a small distance from the edge of the carpet, there being left immediately along the edge a strip of small width, say one quarter of an inch, where the nap is not removed. At present this small amount of nap is sheared oft' after thecarpet has been put through the machine, but it will be obvious that the machine can easily be arranged so that it will pull'thenap from astrip Vdirectly adjacent the edge. It is only for mechanical convenience that the arrangement is made as shown, and this mechanical convenienceis thought to outweigh the'slight inconvenience of shearing off'the nap from the remainder of the strip along the edge.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a cross section taken I26 and a cross head 'f-ra ne 27.

on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. I ig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a part of the machine taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig 4 is a detail cross section taken on line 4- of Fig. 1.

In the drawings 5 des .gnates a supporting frame of suitable chiracter which carries a divided table 6 for the support of carpet 7. The carpet pa: ses over table 6 in the direction indicated bj' the arrow in Fig. 1 and at the center portion of the table passes under a feeding rc ll 8, this roll being luted or toothed to obte in a good driving grip on the carpet. The teeth may be made to project forwardly so a; to catch the body of the carpet and hold it in lace. The carpet is fed through tha machine with its nap 9 below, the nap projecting downwardly where it passes over feeding roll 8 so that it may be easily gripped and pulled out, as will be hereinafter described. A pair of -rollers 10 on ear h side of roller 8 press upwardly on the ca rpet and hold it in position against the feed roller. Rollers 10 are mounted on arms 11 jiivoted at 12 to the frame of the machine, the arms being extended and held downwz rdly on their ends by adjustable springs 13. Rollers 10'are thus resiliently held upyardly against the carpet and hold it tight] v against the feeding roll. Shaft 14, o1. which roller 10 shown on the right hanl side in Fig. 1 is mounted, projects throu gh frame 5 and is provided with a gear 1i on its outerend whichmeshes with a gi ar 16 mounted on shaft 17 of feed roller v8. This arrangement provides that roller 10 sl all be driven along with roller 8f so as to Jositively pull the carpet through the mac lline. Shaft 17 Of roller 8 is mounted in be irings 18 on frame 5 and is provided with a 'ratchetwheel 19 at its outer end for the purpose of driving it in the direction indictt'ed by the arrow. This ratchet wheel is re folved through the medium of a pawl 20 n ounted on the end of an arm 21 which is op erated by an eccentric 22 on main operati 1g shaft 23 of the machine. When shaft 53 is revolved arm 21 will be reciprocatei. .and the ratchet wheel 19 will be intermittently rotated. The carpet will thus be fed in successive short movements throug'i the machine.

Mounted on frame 5 i5 a pair of vertical wa s 25, these ways hol ling a slider frame Cross head frame 27 is reciprocated vertically through the medium of a horizon tal slot 28 in which shaft 34. Shaft 23 is ordinarily driven by i hand but may be equipped for power driving if desired.

Slider frame 26 in the upper part of ways l 25 is provided with two pivots 35 whichy These grippers are support grippers 36. provided on their upper ends with nap engaging noses 37 and have extensions 38 be- To their lower ends are pivoted links 39, pivoted together at 40 and low pivots 35.

connected to a vertical rod 41 at that point.

Rod 41 extends downwardly and is secured 5 at 42 to cross head frame 27, the rod being screw threaded and a turn buckle 43 provided for adjustment of its length.

the first operation is the closing together of the upper ends of the grippers. When cross head frame 27 moves downwardly the inner ends of links 39 are pulled downwardly .and the lower ends of the grippers spread apart until the upper ends grip the nap between them tightly. lDuring this portion of the movement slider frame 26 is prevented from moving downwardly by means of a small spring v45 which presses against the slider frame and affords sufficient friction to hold it in place. By adjusting the pressure of spring 45, the downward pull necessary to move the slider frame, and the pressure between the two grippers, may be regulated. When the grippers can be no longer moved about their pivots the remaining downward motion of the cross head frame will move the slider frame and grippers together bodily. On the subse uent upward movement of the cross head rame the lower ends of the grippers will first be contracted and the upper ends separated, so that the pulled nap is dropped. As soon as the links reach such a position as is shown in the drawings the upward component of their pull is suflicient to move the slider frame and grippers again to the position shown.

Ledge 50, against and under which the carpet travels, is made adjustable as shown in Fig. 4. The width of the pulled portion may thereby be varied within the limits'of the width of rollers 10, it always being necessary to keep the carpet in engagement with the edge -rollers to a small extent.

The arrangement of the different parts of the machine is so made that the carpet is only fed through as fast as the grippers can remove the nap. In the present construction the grippers operate continuously while the carpet is fed intermittently. This specific arrangement, however, is of no importance, it being possible to feed the carpet continuously if desired. To remove the pulled nap from the machine a blower or any other approved means may be used. If necessary, the machine may be doubled, one set of grippers acting on the carpet after the other has pulled most of the nap, thus cleaning the carpet thoroughly.

Having described my inventioml claim 1. A carpet plucker, comprising a means for supporting a carpet, a slider frame adapted to move to and from the carpet, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on the slider frame, a pair of links pivoted to the ends of the grippers and to each other, means to impart a reciprocating motion to the pivoted connection of the two links, and means for retarding the reciprocation of the slider frame.

2. A carpet plucker, comprising a mechanism for holding and moving the carpet, a Starting with the machine in the position shown and supposing shaft 23 to be rotated,

pair of grippers, and means for moving the grippers bodily to and from the carpet and for moving the grippers toward each other at the end of their movement toward the carpet and for movingthem apart at the end of their movement away from the carpet.

' 3. A carpet plucker, comprising a mechanism for holding and moving the carpet, a pair of grippers, means for moving the grippers bodily to and from the carpet and for moving the grippers toward each other at the end of their movement toward the carpet and for moving them apart at the end of their movment away from the carpet, and connect-ive mechanism whereby the carpet moving mechanism and the grippers are operated together.

4. A carpet plucker, comprising a means for supporting and feeding the carpet, a slider frame adapted to move to and from the carpet, a pair of grippers pivotally "mounted on the slider frame, a pair of links pivoted to the ends of the grippers and to each other, and means to impart a reciproeating motion to the pivotal connection of the two links.

5. A carpet plucker, comprising a frame, a horizontal table on the frame for supporting the carpet, vertical ways mounted on the mounted in the ways, frictional means for holding the slider frame at rest, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on the slider frame, links pivoted to the grippers and to frame beneath the table, a slider frame each other, a cross head frame mounted in the ways, connective means between the cross head frame and the links at their point of attachment to each other, a crank mechanism for reciprocating the cross head frame, and a feeder mechanism for the carpet, the

feeder mechanism and crank mechanism being connected so as to operate simultaneously.

6. A carpet plucker, comprising a frame, a carpet table supported by the frame, a set of carpet feeding rollers mounted on the frame an adapted to feed the carpet olf the table, a pair of vertical Ways mounted on the frame, a slider frame mounted in the ways, frictional means for holding the slider frame at rest, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on the slider frame and extending upwardly to a oint adjacent the carpet,the upper ends of t e grippers being provided with noses for enga ement with the carpet nap, the grippers eing extended below their pivots, a pair of links connected to the lower ends of the grippers and to each other, a cross head frame slidably mounted in the Ways, a connecting rod of adjustable length connecting the cross head frame with the links at theirpoint of attachment to each other, a crank mechanism for reciprocating the cross head frame, a main operating shaft for theA machine, connecting means between the main operating shaft and the crank mechanism, and connecting means between the main operating shaft and the carpet feeding rollers.

7. A carpet plucker, comprising a frame, a carpet table supported by the frame, means t'o adjust the position of the carpet transversely on the table, a carpet feeding roller mounted on the frame and adapted to feed the carpet over the table, means to hold the carpet 1n engagement with the roller, a pair of vertical ways mounted on the frame, a slider frame mounted in the ways, frictional means for holding the slider frame at rest,

f a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on `the slider frame and extending upwardly to a point adjacent the carpet, tl e upper ends of the grippers being provide( with noses for engagement with the carpe` nap, the grippers being extended below their pivots, a pair of links connected to t] .e lower ends of the grippers and to each otl er, a cross head frame slidably mounted in ilhe ways, a connecting rod of adjustable le igth connecting the cross head frame with t 1e links at their point of attachment to eaclv other, a crank mechanism for reciprocating; the cross head frame, a main operating sh aft for the machine, connecting means bezween the main operating shaft and the cr ink mechanism, and connecting means between the main operating shaft and the carpet feeding rollers.

8. A carpet plucker, comj )rising a means for holding and feeding a carpet, a slider frame adapted to move to a1 td from the carpet, a pair of grippers move bly mounted on the slider frame, and means for moving the grippers to and from eac 1 other on the slider frame and for moving the slider frame to and from the carpet, the grippers being moved toward each other vhen the slider frame is at the end of its stroke near the carpet and apart from each other when the slider frame is at the opp )site end of its stroke. f

In witness that I claim :he foregoing I have hereunto subscribed m v name this 6th day of November 1909.

J C. OWENS,

Witnesses:

ELwooD H. BARKELE` v, Lrzzm D. BRETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

